American Beech is ‘very good,’ says The New York Times

American Beech, the recently opened New American Greenport restaurant with a coastal vibe, has received a coveted “Very Good” rating from The New York Times.

“Very Good” is the second-highest rating in the Gray Lady’s five-point grading system.

The Stirling Square eatery, which is owned by Brent Pelton and managed by Dennis McDermott (formerly of The Riverhead Project and The Frisky Oyster), opened in late summer.

Arielle Ferrara, a former chef at The Riverhead Project, helms the kitchen.

Anyone who misses the fried chicken and honey at The Riverhead Project can take comfort in the fact that a similar (and, from the sound of it, improved) dish appears on the menu at American Beech.

“The buttermilk fried chicken, with spiced honey in the crust, had a Southerner in our party calling it ‘the best fried chicken north of the Mason-Dixon line,'” New York Times reviewer Joanne Starkey wrote. “Its crust was crunchy, its interior succulent and juicy, and it was accompanied by a small salad of greens tossed with blue cheese, pickled onions and tomatoes.”

Two sandwiches Starkey recommends are the burger and the lobster roll.